"It's a very tough decision for me to leave behind all of what we have built together," Hong Ge reportedly wrote in an email to Airbnb staff seen by Bloomberg. "But hey, it's a small world. I will still be in the Internet industry. I'm sure our paths will cross again in the future."

And Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky reportedly wrote in an email to staff on October 21 that "Hong Ge, our VP of China, is stepping down to pursue opportunities outside of Airbnb."

An Airbnb spokesperson confirmed the departure in an email to Business Insider. "Until we hire a President of China, Kum Hong Siew will assume the role of interim head of China," they said.